Local group holds weekly tailgating parties at church

The Rev. Mike Manase is shown wearing his New Orleans Saints beanie Saturday at a tailgate party at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Charles community. The Knights of Columbus at the church has held Saints tailgate parties every week this season.

Published: Friday, January 22, 2010 at 12:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 22, 2010 at 12:33 p.m.

HOUMA — The New Orleans Saints and religion go hand in hand. So when a member of a local Knights of Columbus group wanted to start tailgating at the group’s church on game days, the rest of the membership got onboard.

It was at one of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church’s Knights of Columbus Council No. 12060 meetings that Albert Delaney inquired about the possibility of starting a weekly New Orleans Saints tailgate party at the church’s Life Center, 1027 La. 308, Thibodaux.

“It’s a blast,” Julius Barrios, the group’s grand knight, said of the weekly parties that received unanimous approval from the local group’s membership.

After the 10 a.m. Mass on Sundays at the church this season, groups of fans gathered to root on their beloved Saints in the small St. Charles Community. Barrios said what initially included only Knights of Columbus members has seen a steady influx of fellow church parishioners and others joining in the fun.

“We have a 52-inch big screen TV and some good food to eat,” he said. “It’s been a hit.”

For the recent New Orleans Saints playoff game, Barrios estimates they had a crowd of between 30 to 40 people.

And one of the faithful attendees is a familiar face to church parishioners — the church’s priest, the Rev. Mike Manase.

“It’s a good way for all of us to fellowship outside of church,” Manase said. “I get into it even though I went into things not knowing much about the game. Now I find myself yelling and hollering all the time.”

And church parishioners and staff are happy to see the priest getting in on the fun. Church bookkeeper Patti Knoblock said she likes to tell others a funny story about Manase’s newfound affection for the Saints.

Knoblock, who attended the Saints playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, heard about Manase’s weekend homily when she returned to work Monday.

“Father Mike was relating his homily to the gospel message of Jesus turning the water into wine, and how Mary (his mother) had told the servants to ‘do whatever he tells you,’ ” Knoblock said. “Father told the congregation that we should always have Jesus and his mother with us in every situation, and things will turn out good. At the end of the Mass, he asked the people to go to the tailgate party to cheer on the Saints and to take Jesus and his mother with them, and then the Saints would win! And they did!”

But the party isn’t just about football and religion. Organizers said along with food, the tailgating events feature door prizes and other activities.

“We even have cheerleaders,” Barrios said with a laugh. “Our wives get up and do cheers during the games.”

Barrios said the Knights of Columbus are planning on having one of its biggest gatherings Sunday when the Saints play the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game.

He said the event is open to the public, not just church parishioners.

Barrios said they’ll be fixing gumbo and are expecting a big crowd to cheer the Saints on to victory.

“It’s going to be fun,” he said.

Manase and Barrios said gatherings like the weekly tailgate parties give everyone in attendance a chance to focus on the good things in life.

“We live such busy lives, it’s nice to stop every once in a while and think about being with one another and not stressing over work and the other distractions that occupy our time on a daily basis,” Manase said. “This is what something like this is all about.”

Staff Writer Thad Angelloz can be reached at 857-2207 or thad.angelloz@houmatoday.com.

<p>HOUMA — The New Orleans Saints and religion go hand in hand. So when a member of a local Knights of Columbus group wanted to start tailgating at the group's church on game days, the rest of the membership got onboard. </p><p>It was at one of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church's Knights of Columbus Council No. 12060 meetings that Albert Delaney inquired about the possibility of starting a weekly New Orleans Saints tailgate party at the church's Life Center, 1027 La. 308, Thibodaux.</p><p>“It's a blast,” Julius Barrios, the group's grand knight, said of the weekly parties that received unanimous approval from the local group's membership.</p><p>After the 10 a.m. Mass on Sundays at the church this season, groups of fans gathered to root on their beloved Saints in the small St. Charles Community. Barrios said what initially included only Knights of Columbus members has seen a steady influx of fellow church parishioners and others joining in the fun.</p><p>“We have a 52-inch big screen TV and some good food to eat,” he said. “It's been a hit.”</p><p>For the recent New Orleans Saints playoff game, Barrios estimates they had a crowd of between 30 to 40 people.</p><p>And one of the faithful attendees is a familiar face to church parishioners — the church's priest, the Rev. Mike Manase.</p><p>“It's a good way for all of us to fellowship outside of church,” Manase said. “I get into it even though I went into things not knowing much about the game. Now I find myself yelling and hollering all the time.”</p><p>And church parishioners and staff are happy to see the priest getting in on the fun. Church bookkeeper Patti Knoblock said she likes to tell others a funny story about Manase's newfound affection for the Saints.</p><p>Knoblock, who attended the Saints playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, heard about Manase's weekend homily when she returned to work Monday.</p><p>“Father Mike was relating his homily to the gospel message of Jesus turning the water into wine, and how Mary (his mother) had told the servants to 'do whatever he tells you,' ” Knoblock said. “Father told the congregation that we should always have Jesus and his mother with us in every situation, and things will turn out good. At the end of the Mass, he asked the people to go to the tailgate party to cheer on the Saints and to take Jesus and his mother with them, and then the Saints would win! And they did!”</p><p>But the party isn't just about football and religion. Organizers said along with food, the tailgating events feature door prizes and other activities.</p><p>“We even have cheerleaders,” Barrios said with a laugh. “Our wives get up and do cheers during the games.”</p><p>Barrios said the Knights of Columbus are planning on having one of its biggest gatherings Sunday when the Saints play the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game.</p><p>He said the event is open to the public, not just church parishioners.</p><p>Barrios said they'll be fixing gumbo and are expecting a big crowd to cheer the Saints on to victory.</p><p>“It's going to be fun,” he said.</p><p>Manase and Barrios said gatherings like the weekly tailgate parties give everyone in attendance a chance to focus on the good things in life.</p><p>“We live such busy lives, it's nice to stop every once in a while and think about being with one another and not stressing over work and the other distractions that occupy our time on a daily basis,” Manase said. “This is what something like this is all about.”</p><p> </p><p>Staff Writer Thad Angelloz can be reached at 857-2207 or thad.angelloz@houmatoday.com.</p>